JP2000042125A - Mask - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a cold and ease the condition of a patient, and to restrain generation of anoring by incorporating a heating element in a mask, thereby heating air in the mask to supply the moisture in the air as warm vapor to the nose and throat the to moisture the upper airway texture of the human body. SOLUTION: Preferably a heating element chemically generates heat in view of portability, convenience and economical efficiency, and further preferably oxidation heat of metal powder is used in view of persistence of exothermic reaction. For example, a large quantity of water is carried on powder such as activated carbon, water absorbing polymer or the like, and metal powder such as iron powder and a heat generation accelerator such as salt or the like are added to the above to form a heating element composition. A mask main body 3 formed by a bag part 1 and rubber pieces 2 held on the ears is manufactured. On the other hand, the heating element composition 11 is put in a moisture permeable heating element inner bag 12 formed by nonwoven fabric of polypropylene fiber to form a heating element 10A, which is stored in the bag part 1 of the mask main body 3. Nonwoven fabric of polypropylene fiber as a temperature buffer material 4 is stored in the bag part 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mask incorporating a heating element to more effectively protect the nose and throat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since ancient times, colds have been deeply involved in our daily lives, and medical examinations due to colds have the highest proportion of medical institutions at any time. Colds cause viruses in the air to enter upper respiratory tract tissues, such as the nasal cavity and pharynx,
It begins by multiplying. In particular, in the dry season in winter, the immunity of the upper respiratory tract tissue is reduced, and the virus is easily scattered, so that it is very easy to catch a cold.

Therefore, as a preventive measure against a cold, a mask has been used to prevent inhalation of a virus and keep the throat warm. As a mask, a type in which a gauze or the like is simply folded and a rubber for ear hanging is used to cover the mouth and nose is widely used, but more positively with such a mask. As a mask for protecting tissues of the nose and throat, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99084 discloses a mask in which a liquid-containing liquid impregnated with water or an aqueous solution of a fragrance or a drug is loaded. Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-36442 discloses a mask containing a humidifier made of cotton-like synthetic fibers mixed with a water retention agent that has sufficiently absorbed water.

[0004]

However, the conventional mask, which is simply folded gauze or the like, has the function of keeping the body temperature and the heat supplied from the exhalation, but since the mask itself does not have a heating mechanism, the mask is actively used. It cannot supply warm steam to the throat and throat and cannot provide moisture to the upper respiratory tract tissue.

A conventional mask incorporating a liquid-containing or humidified body impregnated with water, a chemical, or the like has a supply source of water vapor or a chemical vapor in the mask. Because there is no mechanism to promote
The generation of water vapor and drug vapor is only promoted by the inhalation action of respiration, and it is difficult to supply effective moisture and drug for preventing cold to the upper respiratory tract tissue.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a mask capable of positively supplying warm steam or drug vapor to the nose and throat to moisturize the upper respiratory tract tissue.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a mask having a heating element incorporated therein.

According to the mask of the present invention, since the heating element is incorporated, the air in the mask is warmed, and the moisture in the air or the water accumulated in the mask due to breathing is supplied to the nose and throat as warm water vapor. And moisturize the upper respiratory tract tissue. Therefore, to prevent colds and alleviate symptoms,
Further, occurrence of snoring can be suppressed.

In particular, in the mask of the present invention, according to the aspect in which the water holding member for releasing water vapor is provided separately from the heating member, the water holding member is heated by the heating member,
Generate a sufficient amount of water vapor. Therefore, irrespective of the presence or absence of the steam generating ability of the heating element itself, it is possible to reliably supply a sufficient amount of steam to the upper respiratory tract tissue and moisturize the dried upper respiratory tract tissue, thereby preventing the cold and preventing the symptoms. And the like can alleviate the effect.

[0010] In the mask of the present invention, the heating element itself emits water vapor. In particular, the heating element contains metal powder, salts and water, and emits water vapor along with the oxidation reaction of the metal powder. In the embodiment, since water vapor can be supplied to the upper respiratory tract tissue without providing a water retainer separately from the heating element, the cold prevention effect and the symptom mitigation effect can be enhanced with a simple configuration. .

Further, according to the aspect of the mask of the present invention provided with the medicine carrier, the release of the medicine vapor from the carrier is promoted by the heating element, so that the medicine vapor is effectively increased together with the water vapor. Provided to airway tissue. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent a cold and relieve symptoms.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The mask of the present invention will be described below in detail.

[0013] The mask of the present invention is characterized in that a heating element is incorporated. Here, the mask refers to a mask that covers at least one of the nose and the mouth, regardless of the presence or absence of a band or the like fixed to the face.

As the heating element, an electric heater, a small hot water bottle,
Red beans using charcoal, coal, etc., cairoces using paulownia ash, benzine, etc., and compositions that generate chemical heat can be given, but those that generate chemical heat from the viewpoint of portability, simplicity, and economy. preferable.

Here, the chemical exotherm means calcium chloride,
Heat generated by chemical reaction such as heat of hydration of magnesium chloride, calcium oxide, zeolite, etc., heat of oxidation of metal powder, heat of neutralization of acid such as hydrochloric acid with alkali such as sodium hydroxide. Among them, it is preferable to use the heat of oxidation of the metal powder from the viewpoint of the durability of the exothermic reaction.

A heating element utilizing the heat of oxidation of metal powder is generally called a chemical warmer. More specifically, for example, a large amount of water is supported on powder of activated carbon or a water-absorbing polymer. And a heating element composition to which a metal powder such as iron powder and a heat generation accelerator such as salt are added. In a conventional chemical warmer, such a heating element composition is housed in a bag made of a material having high air permeability but low moisture permeability, so that water required for the reaction does not escape from the heating element.

In the present invention, similarly to the conventional chemical warmer, a heating element in which a heating element composition is contained in a bag made of a material having high air permeability but low moisture permeability may be used. Is more preferably contained in a moisture-permeable bag or the like because the heating element composition can be used not only as a heating element but also as a steam generator. More specifically, the heating element composition was prepared by the ASTM method (E-96-80D method).
000 g / m ² · 24 h or more, more preferably 8000
It is preferable to accommodate the sheet material having a moisture permeability of g / m ² · 24 h or more so that, when heat is generated, a part of the water present in the reaction system becomes steam and is positively discharged out of the system. . Thus, the amount of released steam can be about 10 to 3000 mg per minute, depending on the components of the heating element composition, the material of the bag containing the heating element composition, and the like. Preferably, the amount of steam released per unit area of the application surface of the steam generator is 0.5 mg / cm ² · min or more. It is preferable that such a heating element composition contained in a moisture-permeable bag or the like be incorporated into a mask, since it is possible to warm the air sucked into the nose and throat and to supply sufficient water vapor to the air.

When such a heating element composition is provided in the mask of the present invention, the mask is actually used in a non-breathable outer bag as in a known chemical warmer. Then, the mask is taken out of the outer bag when the mask is used, and the exothermic reaction may be started.

On the other hand, in the present invention, there is no particular limitation on the shape and the material of the mask incorporating the heating element, as long as the heating element can be attached and the nose and / or the mouth can be covered.

For example, the shape of the mask body is a rectangular flexible bag into which a heating element can be detachably attached, and rubber strings or the like for attaching the mask body to ears are attached to opposite sides thereof. be able to. In this case, the material of the mask body is not particularly limited as long as sufficient heat can be supplied to the nose and mouth, but a material capable of supplying moisture in addition to the heat is preferable. For example, when the mask body is of a type incorporating a chemical warmer therein, as a material of the mask body, at least a material located between the nose or mouth and the chemical warmer has a sufficient water vapor passing amount. I do. More specifically, for example, selected from artificial fibers such as nylon, vinylon, polyester, rayon, acetate, acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride, and natural fibers such as pulp, cotton, hemp, silk, and animal hair. Woven, non-woven, paper, synthetic paper and polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide,
Polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride,
Polyurethane, polystyrene, saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, natural rubber, recycled rubber, synthetic rubber, and other non-breathable resin films or sheets having perforations are provided.

As the material of the mask body, the above-described woven cloth,
In addition to a flexible material made of a nonwoven fabric or the like, a plastic molded product or the like having better shape retention than those materials can be used.

Further, as the shape of the mask body, a bag portion or a space for inserting the heating element may be provided so that the heating element can be detachably mounted.
As a result, the mask body can be used repeatedly, which is preferable from the viewpoint of dust.

In the mask of the present invention, the water vapor that reaches the face when the mask is worn has a safe temperature, preferably 5%.
It is preferable to appropriately provide a temperature buffer or a gap between the heating element and the face as needed so that the temperature is 0 ° C. or lower. For example, the temperature of the water vapor released from the above-mentioned chemical warmer becomes 60 ° C. or more when the air is released to the atmosphere or close to the atmosphere without controlling the amount of ventilation to the chemical warmer. It is preferable to provide a temperature buffer or a gap between the face and the face.

The constituent materials of the temperature buffering material include (1) various woven fabrics and nonwoven fabrics, (2) papers such as paper and synthetic paper, and (3) plastics, natural rubber, recycled rubber or synthetic rubber. One or more of a porous film or porous sheet, (4) a foamed plastic such as urethane foam having perforations, and (5) a metal foil such as aluminum having perforations can be used in appropriate combination. When the temperature is controlled by using these temperature buffer materials, the temperature buffer material also serves as a resistance to the passage of water vapor, so that selection of the material and thickness of the temperature buffer material requires a predetermined amount of water vapor to reach the face. As appropriate.

The gap for controlling the temperature of the water vapor reaching the face may have a distance between the heating element and the face of 1 to 1 mm.
It is preferably 0 cm. If less than 1 cm
Burns may be caused, and if it exceeds 10 cm, the temperature of water vapor reaching the face becomes insufficient. Such a gap can be formed by forming the mask main body from a plastic molded body or the like having good shape retention compared to a cloth material such as gauze.

The mask of the present invention may be provided with a water retainer for releasing water vapor separately from the heating element. As the moisture retainer, a non-woven fabric, a woven fabric, a porous polymer or the like impregnated with water, a water-absorbing polymer having water absorbed therein, or the like can be used.

The heating element incorporated in the mask is
In the case of a heating element composition of a chemical warmer housed in a non-breathable bag or a type that does not release water vapor, such as an electric heater, a nose or throat can be provided by providing a moisture holding body together with the heating element. It is preferable because sufficient water vapor can be supplied to the air sucked into the mask, and the effect of preventing a cold from occurring in the mask can be further enhanced. Further, even when the heating element incorporated in the mask itself has a steam generating ability, such as a heating element composition of a chemical warmer housed in a moisture-permeable bag or the like, a moisture retaining body is provided. This is preferable because the amount of water vapor in the air sucked into the nose and throat can be further increased.

The mask of the present invention may further be provided with a drug carrier. There are no particular restrictions on the type of drug,
By being inhaled, those that relieve inflammation of the respiratory organs such as the nose and throat, and so-called aromatherapy effects,
Those that relax or uplift the mind are preferred. Further, those which are continuously released by heating or by supplying steam are preferred. Such drugs include, for example, camphor, menthol, peppermint oil,
Eucalyptus oil, nutmeg oil, turpentine oil, rosemary oil, lavender oil, cedar germ oil, hinokitiol and the like. These agents can be incorporated into the mask by a known method such as impregnating in a carrier such as paper or non-woven fabric and accommodating them in a bag-shaped mask, or attaching them to the outer surface of the mask.

[0029]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent components.

Example 1 A mask body 3 (long side 13 cm, short side 8 cm) comprising a bag portion 1 and an ear hanging rubber 2 as shown in FIG. 1 was prepared. In this case, the bag part 1 was formed from cotton.

On the other hand, the heating element composition 11 having the composition shown in Table 1
And 20 g of the heating element composition 11 is put into a moisture-permeable heating body bag 12 made of a nonwoven fabric of polypropylene fiber to form a heating element 10A, and as shown in FIG. Housed within.

A non-woven fabric (thickness: 15 mm) made of polypropylene fiber was prepared as the temperature buffer material 4 and was also prepared as shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the mask was housed in the bag portion 1 of the mask body 3 to obtain a mask of the example.

[0033]

[Table 1] Heating element composition (% by weight) Activated carbon 20 Salt 5 Iron powder 50 Water 25

Example 2 Using a sheet made of water-impermeable polyethylene,
As shown in FIG. 2, the inside has two storage portions 13a and 13b.
And the contents are put into these storage portions 13a and 13b and pressed, whereby these two storage portions 13
The heat generating body bag 13 was prepared so that a and 13b could easily communicate with each other at the boundary area 13c. Then, 7 g of calcium chloride 14 is put in one of the storage sections 13 a, and 30 g of water 15 is put in the other storage section 13 b, and the heating element 1
0B. The heating element 10B was housed in the bag 1 of the mask body 3 similar to that of the first embodiment.

Further, a high-density nonwoven fabric is impregnated with water, and the resultant is accommodated in an inner bag made of a nonwoven fabric made of a moisture-permeable and water-impermeable polypropylene fiber. In the bag part 1 of Example 1 to obtain a mask of Example.

Example 3 As shown in FIG. 3, the same heating element composition 11 as in Example 1 was used.
Was housed in a heat-permeable bag 16 that is permeable to oxygen but impervious to water vapor, thereby producing a heat-generating body 10C having no steam-generating ability. A mask of this example was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the heating element 10C was used instead of the heating element 10A of Example 1.

Example 4 A carrier 6 for a medicine in which menthol, eucalyptus oil and turpentine oil were carried on filter paper was prepared, and this was used as shown in FIG. Was mounted in the bag portion 1 to produce the mask of this example.

Example 5 A mask of this example was produced in the same manner as in Example 4, except that the drug carrier 6 of Example 4 was mounted on the mask of Example 3.

Embodiment 6 As shown in FIG. 5, instead of the heating element 10B of Embodiment 2,
Using commercially available Cairo 7 (Hakkin Cairo, manufactured by Hakkin Co., Ltd.) of the type that burns benzene with a platinum catalyst,
A mask of this example was manufactured.

Example 7 A mask of this example was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 6, except that the drug carrier 6 of Example 4 was attached to the mask of Example 6.

Example 8 As shown in FIG. 6, a mask body 17 made of a polypropylene mask molded product 17 having a hemispherical cross section and rubber ears 2 attached to both ends thereof was produced. The heating element 10A of Example 1 was fixed to the inner surface of the mask molded product 17, and the drug carrier 6 of Example 4 was further fixed thereon, thereby producing the mask of this example. This mask had a distance of about 3 cm between the face and the heating element when worn.

Embodiment 9 As shown in FIG. 7, a pocket 1p capable of removably housing the heating element 10A is provided in the bag portion 1, and the heating element 10A is inserted into the pocket 1p in the same manner as in the first embodiment. A mask of this example was manufactured.

In this embodiment, the heating element 10A is taken out of the pocket 1p after use and discarded.
Can be reused by inserting a new heating element into the pocket 1p.

Example 10 As shown in FIG. 8, a mask main body made of a polypropylene molded product 17 having a hemispherical cross section was manufactured. A lid 17 is formed on the inner surface of the mask molded product 17 as a pocket into which the heating element 10A of the first embodiment can be removably inserted.
A space 17p with q is formed, and the space 1
The mask of this example was manufactured by inserting the heating element 10A into 7p.

This mask is applied to the mouth and nose by holding the mask body by hand at the time of use. The heating element 10A is taken out of the space 17p after use and discarded, and the mask body can be reused by newly inserting the heating element into the space 17p.

Comparative Example 1 A mask was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the heating element 10A was not used.

Comparative Example 2 A mask was produced in the same manner as in Example 2 except that the heating element 10B was not used.

Evaluation Ten masks (A to J) using the masks prepared in each of the Examples and Comparative Examples were used for 30 minutes for each of the monitors (A to J), and (i) sore throat and (ii) runny nose. (Iii) The evaluation of the effect of improving nasal congestion was performed according to the following criteria.

(Evaluation criteria) (i) Sore throat ◎: Sore throat disappeared ○: Sore throat considerably improved △: Sore throat slightly improved ×: Sore throat was not improved (Ii) Runny nose ◎: Runny nose disappeared ○: Runny nose outflow was considerably improved △: Runny nose outflow was slightly improved ×: Runny nose outflow was not improved (iii) Nasal congestion ◎: The stuffy nose disappeared ○: The stuffy nose was considerably improved △: The stuffy nose was slightly improved ×: The stuffy nose was not improved

The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. Each of the embodiments of the present invention has a higher effect of improving the symptoms of a cold than the mask of the comparative example in which no heating element is used, and in particular, Examples 1, 2, and 4 in which water vapor is actively released from the mask. , 6, 7,
8 has a higher effect of improving the symptoms of cold as compared with Examples 3 and 5, which have no water vapor generating ability by themselves, and Examples 4, 7, and 8 using the carrier of the drug have better effects of improving. showed that.

[0051]

[Table 2] Monitor ABCDEFGIJ Example 1: Effect of improving throat pain ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎: Effect of improving nasal discharge ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ : Effect of improving nasal congestion ○ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ ◎ Example 2: Effect of improving sore throat ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎: Effect of improving nasal discharge ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ : Effect of improving nasal congestion ○ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ ◎ Example 3: Effect of improving sore throat △ ◎ ◎ △ ◎ ○ ◎ △ △ ◎: Effect of improving nasal discharge △ ○ ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ △ ◎ : Effect of improving nasal congestion △ △ ◎ △ ◎ ◎ ◎ △ △ ◎ Example 4: Effect of improving sore throat ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎: Effect of improving nasal discharge ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ : improvement of nasal congestion ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ example 5: sore throat improvement effect ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ ◎: runny nose of improvement ◎ ○ ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ △ ◎: the effect of improving the stuffy nose ◎ △ ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ △ ○ ◎ Example 6: sore throat improvement effect ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎: Effect of improving runny nose ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ◎ : Effect of improving nasal congestion ◎ ○ ◎ ○ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ○ ○ Example 7: Effect of improving sore throat ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎: Effect of improving runny nose ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ : Effect of improving nasal congestion ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ Example 8: Effect of improving sore throat ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎: Effect of improving runny nose ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ : Effect of improving nasal congestion ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎ ◎

[0052]

[Table 3] Monitor ABCDEFGHIJ Comparative Example 1: Effect of improving sore throat × × × × × × × × × ×: Effect of improving nasal discharge × × × × × × × × × × : Effect of improving nasal congestion × × × × × × × × × × Comparative Example 2: Effect of improving sore throat × × ○ × × △ △ △ × ×: Effect of improving nasal discharge × × × × × × × × × × × : Nose congestion improvement effect × × △ × × × × × × ×

[0053]

According to the present invention, the air in the mask is heated by the heating element, and the moisture in the air or the water accumulated in the mask by the exhalation can be supplied to the nose and throat as warm water vapor. It can prevent colds and alleviate symptoms. Further, in the present invention, when a heating element having a steam generating ability itself is used, or when a moisture retaining body is provided separately from the heating element, more steam is applied to the nose and throat. Since it can be supplied to the airway tissue and moisten the dried upper airway tissue, the effect of preventing a cold or the effect of alleviating symptoms can be improved.
Further, by providing a carrier for a drug, the effect of preventing a cold or the effect of alleviating symptoms can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view (FIG. 1A) and a cross-sectional view taken along line xx (FIG. 1B) of a mask according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view (FIG. 2A) and a cross-sectional view taken along line xx (FIG. 2B) of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a perspective view (FIG. 3A) and a cross-sectional view xx (FIG. 3B) of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view (FIG. 4A) and a cross-sectional view taken along line xx (FIG. 4B) of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view (FIG. 5A) and a cross-sectional view taken along line xx (FIG. 5B) of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the mask according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bag part 1p pocket 2 Ear hanging rubber 3 Mask main body 4 Temperature buffer material 5 Moisture holder 6 Drug carrier 7 Cairo 10A, 10B, 10C Heating element 11 Heating element composition 12 Heat permeable heating element bag 13 Heating element Bags 13a, 13b Storage section 13c Boundary area between two storage sections 14 Calcium chloride 15 Water 16 Heating body bag 17 Mask molded product 17p Space

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A mask having a heating element incorporated therein. 2. The mask according to claim 1, further comprising a moisture retainer for releasing water vapor separately from the heating element. 3. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the heating element emits water vapor. 4. The mask according to claim 2, wherein the heating element generates heat by chemical heating. 5. The heating element contains metal powder, salts and water,
5. The mask according to claim 4, wherein the mask emits water vapor as the metal powder is oxidized. 6. The mask according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is detachable. 7. The mask according to claim 1, wherein a temperature buffer or a gap is provided between the heating element and the face when the mask is worn. 8. The mask according to claim 1, further comprising a drug carrier.